Sickle Cell Anemia Paper

519 Words3 Pages
The genetic disorder I wanted to learn more about and look into was sickle cell anemia. The name of the disorder is derived from the type of blood cell formation that is produced in the body of someone who lives with this disease. Most red blood cells are in the form of discs, and are filled with iron rich protein whose purpose to to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. Sickle red blood cells are crescent in shape. Sickle cells can block blood flow in vessels of the limbs and organs. This blocked blood flow can result in pain and organ damage. It can also raise the risk for infection. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited gene. In order for someone to have sickle cell anemia they must inherit the gene from both their mother and their father. It is possible for someone to have the sickle cell genetic code but not experience any symptoms, and that is because their body also produces normal red blood cells. In class we had discussed genetic counseling, and because sickle cell anemia is inherited, those who have had loved ones diagnosed with this should seek some sort of genetic counseling to see if they are at risk of…show more content…
There seems to be very little being done as far as research, the article raises speculation that it may be because African American’s are at a higher risk for inheriting the disease. The article also argues that it may be because of the low number in the population that deal with sickle cell disease. “One reason that research on sickle cell treatment has lagged is because of its status as a rare disease that affects only a small population. But rarer diseases have gotten exponentially more funding from the National Institutes of Health, according to a 2004 study in the journal Pediatrics. Some say sickle cell's perception as an African-American disease is why.”

More about Sickle Cell Anemia Paper

Open Document